The Beer Nut: Springdale to host 'We're Funk'd Sour Stroll'

Wednesday

May 10, 2017 at 10:40 AM

Norman Miller Daily News Staff @Norman_MillerMW

In the fallout from dozens of breweries pulling out of Wicked Weed’s July 8 Funkatorium beer festival in Asheville, North Carolina, Springdale by Jack’s Abby Brewing in Framingham is offering those breweries an alternative.

That same weekend, Springdale will hold the “We’re Funk’d Sour Stroll,” a pub crawl through Cambridge and Somerville.

A little background of what led to this. Last week, Wicked Weed Brewing Company announced they were selling its brewery to Anheuser-Busch, causing an uproar in the beer world. Numerous fans of the brewery derided Wicked Weed as “sellouts” and promised never to drink their beers again.

There were also repercussions from other breweries, who also voiced their displeasure through actions.

Each year, Wicked Weed hosts the Funkatorium, a large beer festival that invites breweries from around the country to come and pour its funky and sour beers for charity. Beer Advocate also announced they have revoked Wicked Weed’s invitation to the first Beer Advocate Beer Meets Wood festival to be held in September in Portland, Maine.

Because of the sale, dozens of breweries pulled out of the festival, including all three Massachusetts breweries that had previously committed to going – Springdale, Night Shift Brewing Company of Everett and Trillium Brewing Company of Boston and Canton.

The day that Springdale announced they would not attend the festival, General Manager Joe Connolly announced Springdale was looking to host an event. That turns out to be the stroll.

“We are selecting 10 bars in Cambridge and Somerville to participate in what we’re calling a ‘We’re Funk’d Sour Stroll,’” Connolly wrote in an email sent to breweries. “Each bar will commit 10-40 lines in support of a charity of their choice, as well as an optional food pairing.”

The bars, which have not been named yet, will be within walking distance. In addition, breweries will be allowed to highlight their own walking route and use social media to help get participants to follow them each day.

A passport or map will be printed and be available at all locations, Connolly said.

The finale of the event will be a mini beer festival called “Big Guns Beer.” The festival will be held at a yet-to-be named location in Cambridge or Somerville. The exact day of the event is not determined, and the proceeds of the festival will go to the MS Society.

Connolly, in his email, also urges the breweries to support he Eblen Charities, the charity that the Funkatorium is scheduled to benefit.

“We realize that this is a very short timeframe to execute such an event,” Connolly wrote. “We believe that this could be the crazy, accidental beginning of an awesome annual event, and we’d love you to throw caution to the wind and join us for this wild ride. People are already talking about this event, and we think they will be for a long time.”

Norman Miller is a Daily News staff writer. Email him at nmiller@wickedlocal.com or call 508-626-3823. Check out the Beer Nut blog at http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/section/blogs01?taxid=646&start=2. Follow him on Twitter @RealBeerNut and on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerBeerNut

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